Last Saturday night, my dear friend, Kelly (far right), organized a dinner out with some friends. Many of them are genetic counselors that I�ve known for years. I was hesitant to go out that night because it was only the second day after starting my new oral chemotherapy and I had spent most of that day fighting off nausea and vomiting. At the restaurant, I still felt like crap. Although it was great too see everyone as they arrived and the placed smelled amazing, I knew that I couldn�t order any food. Then something magical happened. As my friends and I talked and laughed, I realized that I was feeling less crappy. We talked and laughed some more, and I decided to order a side of rice. The more we talked and laughed, the hungrier I got. I ordered an entr�e! I had a wonderful night catching up with everyone and am reminded how therapeutic laughter is. Thank you to everyone who came, and to those who weren�t able...
Living with cancer is an evolving experience. Back in April, I realized that I wasn't experiencing pain that required me to be on Oxycontin and started the four-month process of weaning off of it. I knew, at that time, that eventually I would probably need to go back on it. I have conflicted feelings about the stuff. I certainly hope that I'll never need it in the future, but in all likelihood, there will come a time that I will be thankful that it's available to me. Since I've gone off of Oxycontin, I have been fortunate enough to have very little pain. There are some days when I don't have any twinges at all. (I love those days!) However, two weeks ago things changed, a bit. I woke up with right rib pain in a specific area near my upper back. I only felt it when I moved my arm a certain way, but it was sharp enough to take my breath away. For five consecutive days I woke up to the same pain, so I finally called my oncologist....
It's nearly impossible for me to believe it's already mid-April of 2016! Since January, life has been a whirlwind of good and not-so-good things. I've come to realize that whether it's good times or bad times, being busy is being busy. Time escapes me. Today has been a good...no...let me start again...Today has been a GREAT day, so I'm not going to whine about anything. Springtime in Chicago is unpredictable - sunny and warm or cold and snowy, in the same day. This spring has been predictably unpredictable, but today in Chicago was beautiful . Although it was a little windy on Michigan Avenue, it was sunny and the temperature was around 50 degrees. I got to do one of my favorite things today. Wynn and I took our day off and made our way to the Art Institute to see a special exhibit: Van Gogh's Bedrooms http://www.artic.e...
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